Everybody's Business

NETWORKING PLATFORM: Contessa Brown wanted a place where adults could socialize without the typical nightlife atmosphere after she become a Christian and quit going to bars and nightclubs in 2008. Unable to find many spots to her liking, in 2009 she launched Café S.O.U.L., a community platform providing a networking space for artists, entrepreneurs and wellness advocates. COURTESY CAFE S.O.U.L.

Everybody’s Business: Cafe S.O.U.L. nourishes creative spirit, community

Everybody's Business 09/11/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 73rd installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

AUTHENTIC FLAVORS: Anne Rabel launched Haitian.ish as a Providence-based catering company in 2023 and opened her food truck, pictured, two years later. PBN PHOTO/STEPHANIE BERNABA

Everybody’s Business: Cuisine is the connection to her Haitian roots

Everybody's Business 08/14/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 72nd installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

Indya Lallier The Beauty Therapist LLC owner / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s business: For Lallier, restoring confidence key to care routine

Everybody's Business 07/03/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 71st installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

GIVING VOICE: Ann Clanton, founder and owner of Ann Clanton Communications, is pictured in front of the R.I. Statehouse. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: Communications firm allows Clanton to fuse her love of...

Everybody's Business 06/05/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 70th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

COTTAGE INDUSTRY: Karen Torres Melendez of West Warwick says she was able to start her own business, Sweet Sculptures, after Rhode Island updated its laws to allow home-based food entrepreneurs to sell certain goods.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Baking venture born amid life’s challenges 

Everybody's Business 05/08/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 69th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

TRAILBLAZER: Remi Jones is the CEO, executive producer and host of “Remi TV,” Rhode Island’s first Black-owned women’s television show.  COURTESY JAY HUNT

Everybody’s Business: Multimedia maven gives voice to the underdog

Everybody's Business 04/10/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 68th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

SUPPORT SYSTEM: Trent Manning, center, is the founder and owner of Down The Road Movers LLC, a Black-owned moving company that he launched to support formerly incarcerated individuals. Pictured with Manning, from left, are foremen/drivers Genesis Harney and Ryan Fogarty. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: Helping formerly incarcerated individuals move on

Everybody's Business 03/13/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 67th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

SERENDIPITOUS SPARK: Yolanda “Yolie” Rome left her role as an academic adviser at Brown University nearly two years ago and launched the Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. East Greenwich store after visiting a Magnolia store in Montana during a trip to see her son and being inspired to start her own store.  PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM

Everybody’s Business: She’s uniting people through soap making

Everybody's Business 02/13/2026

(Editor’s note: This is the 66th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

FIT FOR THE JOB: After excelling at the college level and contributing to two NFL teams, former football player Kerry Taylor turned to personal training, which led to him opening 212 Health & Performance Corp. in East Providence in 2009.  PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Everybody’s Business: Ex-elite football player tackles gym ownership

Everybody's Business 01/02/2026

At 212 Health & Performance Corp., Kerry Taylor seems like just another gym employee in fitness attire getting ready for the next appointment, greeting...